Google Algorithm Updates - From Panda to Possum

Google Algorithm updates overview

If there is something constant in search engine optimization, it is the Google Algorithm updates. With more and more websites coming up, the competition to stay on top of the search results only increases. And Google wants its users to find the relevant matches in its search results. To make it fair, Google keeps updating its algorithm every few years. Google’s aim is to provide its users with a good search experience. As a search engine, it has a lot of responsibility in showing quality content, prevent spam content, and ensure quality checks and deserving websites rank high on the search engine results page. Let’s have a look at the most popular Google Algorithm updates and how each update solved different issues with the changing times.

The PANDA Update:

Aimed at stopping websites with low-quality content from displaying in the top searches results. This algorithm is updated frequently. When the update happens, websites that cleared the Panda check in the past are not as affected as much as the ones who did not. In case a website escaped the earlier Panda update, the algorithm is able to catch it.

The PENGUIN Update:

Introduced to target websites manipulating rankings by purchasing links. Purchased from link networks, these inorganic links are considered spam. This algorithm only dealt with inbound links and not the links going out of the website. It was very important to Google for a website to have relevant inbound links.

The HUMMINGBIRD Update:

Designed to better focus on precision and speed. Google's purpose was to display a search result based on the user’s intention rather than just the keywords entered. Hummingbird was designed to understand the overall message entered by the user, therefore, understanding the overall query and this was done with the help of long-tail keywords.

The PIGEON Update:

Designed keeping in mind detailed locations of the users. That means, not just countries or the cities, but the area as well as the streets. Google pushed out information from directories like Trip Advisor and Yelp. Local SEO benefited neighborhood-based keywords and specifically helped small businesses.

The MOBILEGEDDON Update:

Google launched the mobile based algorithm. The purpose of this update was to ensure websites were mobile responsive. Moreover, factors like text content to be visible without zoom, in addition to spacing issues between links and other content were checked. Most noteworthy, content is to be placed appropriately so that accidental tapping of buttons does nothappen.

The POSSUM Update:

A very sophisticated algorithm, aimed at removing duplicate search results. Different locations of different users gave different results. With the Possum update, businesses located outside city limits also started ranking on the first few pages. Similar businesses located in the same building stopped showing up for same keywords. Furthermore, this revealed the usage of keyword variations.
I hope this blog has helped you understand the major updates. If you'd like to leave a feedback, please leave us a comment below. You can also write to us at hi@antsdigital.in